Combination hexagonal and square member wrench

ABSTRACT

A ratcheting wrench for a hexagonal or a square member, the wrench having a body providing a backup jaw and a torqueing jaw with a member receiving space therebetween and a handle portion extending therefrom, the backup jaw having a planar member engaging working surface and the torqueing jaw having: (1) a first hexagonal member working surface parallel to and spaced from the backup jaw member engaging surface a distance slightly greater than the distance between opposing sides of the hexagonal member the length of the first surface being less than one-half of the length along a side of the hexagonal member, (2) a second hexagonal member working surface intersecting said first hexagonal member working surface at an angle of 60*, (3) a square member positioning surface intersecting said first hexagonal member working surface at the end thereof opposite the second hexagonal member working surface, the plane of the square member positioning surface being perpendicular to the backup jaw surface, and (4) a square member working surface intersecting the square member positioning surface perpendicular thereto, the square member working surface being parallel to the backup jaw surface and displaced from the backup jaw surface slightly greater than the width between opposing faces of the square member.

1 United States Patent [191 Evans COMBINATION HEXAGONAL AND SQUARE MEMBER WRENCH [76] Inventor: James P. Evans, 3233 s.w. 23 st,

Oklahoma City, Okla.

22 Filed: Apr. 16,1973

211 Appl. No.: 351,250

[52] US. Cl 81/119, 81/167, 81/186 [51] Int. Cl B25b 13/02, B25b 13/16 [58] Field of Search. ..8l/l19, 125.1,167, 186, 81/94 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 564,513 7/1896 Friede...., 81/186 X 717,400 12/1902 l-lindman 81/186 956,259 4/1910 Amborn 81/119 1,391,898 9/1921 Kettler 81/186 UX 1,573,409 2/1926 Lynch et al.... 81/94 X 1,954,141 4/1934 Miquelon 81/119 X 3,757,614 9/1973 Evans et al. .1 81/119 D53,6l3 7/1919 Rockwell 81/119 UX FOREIGN PATENTS OR .APPLICATIONS 217,710 6/1924 Great Britain 81/119 Primary ExaminerAl Lawrence Smith Assistant Examiner-James G. Smith Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Head & Johnson [111 3,858,464 [451 Jan. 7, 1975 [57] ABSTRACT A ratcheting wrench for a hexagonal or a square member, the wrench having a body providing a backup jaw and a torqueing jaw with a member receiving space therebetween and a handle portion extending therefrom, the backup jaw having a planar member engaging working surface and the torqueing jaw having: (1)

a first hexagonal member working surface parallel to and spaced from the backup jaw member engaging surface a distance slightly greater than the distance between opposing sides of the hexagonal member the length of the first surface being less than one-half of the length along a side of the hexagonal member, (2)

a second hexagonal member working surface intersecting said first hexagonal member working surface at an angle of 60, (3) asquare member positioning surface intersecting said first hexagonal member workof the square member.

7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures atented Jan. 7, 1975 3,858,464

2 Sheets-Sheet- 1 Patented Jam. 7, 1975 2 Sheets-Sheet 23 COMBINATION HEXAGONAL AND SQUARE MEMBER WRENCH BACKGROUND, SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed towards a new wrench configuration which facilitates the rotation of a hexagonal or square member, such as a hexagonal bolt or nut or a square bolt or nut. Wrenches commonly used for such purposes typically include an open or box end or adjustable jaw, but such wrenches do not permit ratcheting. Of the type permitting ratcheting, that is, rotation of the member without removing the wrench from contact with it, the most commonly used wrench is the socket type which fits completely around the periphery of the member, with a ratcheting handle attached to the socket. v

While all of the present tools function satisfactorily for their intended purpose they all have some limitations. While the socket type of ratcheting wrench functions satisfactorily it is relatively expensive since it includes moving parts. Wrenches in common usage which do not have moving parts have the limitation that they do not permit ratcheting of the member. This re- 7 quires the'wrench be disengaged from the member and repositioned relative to it to rotate the member.

This invention provides a tool configuration which facilitates the rotation of a hexagonal or square member without removing the wrench from engagement with the member and in an arrangement which does not require moving parts. In addition, the wrench is easily engageable with the rotational member thereby providing a wrench characterized by ease of use.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved ratcheting wrench for rotating hexagonal and square members.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved ratcheting wrench for hexagonal and square members characterized by an inclined backup surface which facilitates engagement of the wrench with the member to be rotated thereby providing a wrench having improved ease of use. v

Another object of this invention is to provide a ratcheting wrench for hexagonal and square members including means wherein the wrench is adjustable to accept different size members.

These and other objects will be fulfilled in the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the attached drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS FIG. 1 is an outline view of a hexagonal member, such as a nut or bolt, which may be'rotated by the wrench of this invention, and showing representative dimensions of the member.

FIG. 2 is an outline of a square member, such as a nut or bolt, which may be rotated by the wrench of this invention, and showing a representative dimension thereof.

FIG. 3 is an adjustable wrench embodying the invention having means for ratcheting hexagonal and square members of varying sizes.

FIG. 4 is a wrench as shown in FIG. 3 showing the full handle, and further showing a hexagonal member in position to be torqued when the handle is moved in the direction indicated.

FIG. 5 is a view of the adjustable embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 and showing the position of the hexagonal member relative to the wrench as the wrench handle is moved in the direction opposite the torqueing direction as the wrench is moved into position to re-engage the hexagonal member.

FIG. 6 is an embodiment of the: invention in which the wrench is not adjustable and which is designed to accept a given size hexagonal and square member and showing the wrench as used to engage a hexagonal member.

FIG. 7 is an embodiment of the invention as in FIG. 6 but showing the wrench as used to rotate a square member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring nowto the'drawings and first to FIGS. .1 and 2, representative dimensions of members to which the wrench may be applied are shown. A hexagonal member 10, which may be typically a bolt, nut or any other object to be rotated having a hexagonal exterior configuration, has a width between opposed parallel faces of A and a length B along any one of the sides.

FIG. 2 shows a square member, such as a nut, bolt or the like, or any other object having a square external configuration which may be engaged by the wrench of this invention. The square member 12 has a width between opposed paralleled faces of [C and obviously, the length along one side of the member 12 would also be Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, a simple embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The wrench includes a body portion 14 having a backup jaw portion 16' and a torqueing jaw portion 18.. The backup jaw 16 and torqueing jaw 18 provide therebetween a member receiving recess, generally indicated by the numeral 20. The body portion 14 has a handle portion 22 extending therefrom. The backup jaw 16 has a planar member engaging surface 24. The torqueing jaw has a first working surface 26 which is spaced from the backup jaw surface 24 by distance X which is slightly greater than A. The torqueing jaw has a second working surface 28 intersecting the first working surface 26 at an angle of 60, the length of the second working surface 28 being slightly greater than B. The torqueing jaw having a third working surface 30 intersecting the second working surface 28 and the backup jaw surface 24 each at an angle of 60. The length of the third working surface being slightly greater than B.

The length Y of the torqueing jaw first working surface 26 is less than r B.

The wrench of FIG. 6 is configured to engage a hexagonal member 10 in such a way that, as the handle of the wrench is rotatedin the clockwise direction the hexagonal member 10 is engaged and rotated. When the handle is moved in the opposite direction, that is counterclockwise, the wrench slides upon the peripheral surface of the member 10, to the point wherein the wrench can again engage the member 10 for another torqueing motion.

The wrench disclosed in FIG. 6 is also adaptable, in an optional embodiment of ratcheting a square member. As shown in FIG. 7, the torqueing jaw includes, at the outer end thereof, two additional surfaces. The first is a square member positioning surface 32 which intersects the torqueing jaw first working surface 26 and extends perpendicular to the backup jaw member engaging surface 24. The positioning surface 32 intersects perpendicularly a square member engaging surface 34. I

The spacing W between backup jaw member engaging surface 24 and the torqueing surface 34, as indicated by W, is slightly greater than C. The length of the square member engaging surface 34, indicated by Z, is less than /2 C.

In the position illustrated in FIG. 7, when handle portion 22 is rotated clockwise about the member 12 the member is rotated. When the handle portion moves in the opposite direction the wrench slides upon the periphery of the member 12 until a new position engages the member for further rotation thereof. Thus it can be seen that the wrench illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 is a simple, economical and easy to use wrench for ratcheting both a hexagonal and a square member.

The opposite end of handle 22 may include another wrench of the type configuration described but dimensioned to engage different size members or it may include conventional wrench configurations. For instance, in FIG. 6 the wrench is shown to include a box end providing a hexagonal surface 36 for engaging a hexagonal member. The surface 36 may be of the size to accept and engage hexagonal member 10 or it may be of a different size. As a further illustration of the various embodiments in which the wrench may employ,

FIG. 7 shows the opposite end of handle 22 including an opened end wrench having a configuration 38 such as to engage square member 12.

FIGS. 3, 4 and illustrate an embodiment wherein the wrench may be made adjustable to engage varying size hexagonal and square members. In this embodiment the spacing of torqueing jaw 18 is adjustable relative to the backup jaw 16. While this adjustability may be achieved in various ways, in the illustrated arrangement the torqueing jaw 18 includes an extending longitudinal portion 18A having threads 18B thereon. The wrench body 14 includes an opening (not seen) for slidably receiving the torqueing jaw extended portion 18A. An internally threaded collar 40 serves to position the torqueing jaw 18 relative to the wrench body 14 and thereby relative to the backup jaw 16.

In the arrangement of FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 the torqueing jaw includes first working surface 26 and second working surface 28. The third working surface 30 is functional only at one specific size of hexagonal members and otherwise does not engage the hexagonal member or a square member to be rotated by the wrench.

To improve the wear characteristics of the wrench a hard metal insert, such as of tungsten carbide, may be utilized in the critical member engaging surfaces. For instance, in FIG. 4 a hard metal insert 42 is shown to form at least a portion of square member engaging surface 34. In FIG. 5 the hard metal insert 44 is shown forming atleast a portion of the torqueing jaw first working surface 26. In the arrangement of FIG. 5 the first working surface 26 is inthe form of an integral tooth which may be comprised of the extension of the hard metal insert 44, or the integral tooth may be provided as a part of the torqueing jaw working surface configuration.

While the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity it is manifest that many changes may be made in the details of construction and the arrangement of components without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. It is understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment set forth herein for purposes of ex emplification but is limited only by the scope of the attached claim or claims, ineluding full range of equivalency to which each element thereof is entitled.

I claim:

1. A combination ratcheting wrench for a hexagonal member in which the distance between opposing sides is A and the width along one side is B, and for a square member in which the distance between opposing sides is C, and wherein C is greater than A, comprising:

a body providing a backup jaw and a torqueing jaw with a member receiving space therebetween and a handle portion extending therefrom, said backup jaw having a planar member engaging working surface, said torqueing jaw having:

I. a first hexagonal member working surface parallel to and spaced from said backup jaw member engaging surface a distance slightly greater than A;

2. a second hexagonal member working surface intersecting said first hexagonal member working surface; the length of said first hexagonal member working surface being less than /4B and the length of said second hexagonal member working surface being at least equal to B, the plane of said second hexagonal member working surface intersecting the plane of said backup jaw member engaging surface at an angle of 60, said second'hexagonal member working surface and backup jaw simultaneously engaging a pair of alternate sides of the hexagonal member along the entire length of said alternate sides;

3. a square member positioning surface intersecting said first hexagonal member working surface at the end thereof opposite said second hexagonal member working surface, the plane of said square member positioning surface being perpendicular to said backup jaw member engaging surface; and

4. a square member working surface intersecting said square member positioning surface perpendicular thereto, the square member working surface being parallel said backup jaw member engaging surface and spaced from said backup jaw member engaging surface slightly greater than C, the length of said square member working surface being less the k C.

2. A ratcheting wrench for hexagonal and square members according to claim 1 including a third hexagonal member working surface intersecting the second hexagonal member working surface and the backup jaw, said backup jaw and first and second and third hexagonal member working surfaces simultaneously engaging four contiguous sides of the hexagonal member.

3. A ratcheting wrench for hexagonal and square members according to claim 1 wherein said first hexagonal member working surface is in the form of an integral projection tooth. I

4. A ratcheting wrench for hexagonal and square members according to claim 3 wherein said integral projecting tooth is formed of material harder than said body.

5. A ratcheting wrench for hexagonal and square members according to claim 1 wherein said square member working surface is in the form of an integral projecting tooth.

tween said jaws is adjustable and thereby the spacing between said backup jaw member engaging surface and said torqueing jaw hexagonal and square working surfaces is adjustable. 

1. A combination ratcheting wrench for a hexagonal member in which the distance between opposing sides is A and the width along one side is B, and for a square member in which the distance between opposing sides is C, and wherein C is greater than A, comprising: a body providing a backup jaw and a torqueing jaw with a member receiving space therebetween and a handle portion extending therefrom, said backup jaw having a planar member engaging working surface, said torqueing jaw having:
 1. a first hexagonal member working surface parallel to and spaced from said backup jaw member engaging surface a distance slightly greater than A;
 2. a second hexagonal member working surface intersecting said first hexagonal member working surface; the length of said first hexagonal member working surface being less than 1/2 B and the length of said second hexagonal member working surface being at least equal to B, the plane of said second hexagonal member working surface intersecting the plane of said backup jaw member engaging surface at an angle of 60*, said second hexagonal member working surface and backup jaw simultaneously engaging a pair of alternate sides of the hexagonal member along the entire length of said alternate sides;
 3. a square member positioning surface intersecting said first hexagonal member working surface at the end thereof opposite said second hexagonal member working surface, the plane of said square member positioning surface being perpendicular to said backup jaw member engaging surface; and
 4. a square member working surface intersecting said square member positioning surface perpendicular thereto, the square member working surface being parallel said backup jaw member engaging surface and spaced from said backup jaw member engaging surface slightly greater than C, the length of said square member working surface being less the 1/2 C.
 2. a second hexagonal member working surface intersecting said first hexagonal member working surface; the length of said first hexagonal member working surface being less than 1/2 B and the length of said second hexagonal member working surface being at least equal to B, the plane of said second hexagonal member working surface intersecting the plane of said backup jaw member engaging surface at an angle of 60*, said second hexagonal member working surface and backup jaw simultaneously engaging a pair of alternate sides of the hexagonal member along the entire length of said alternate sides;
 2. A ratcheting wrench for hexagonal and square members according to claim 1 including a third hexagonal member working surface intersecting the second hexagonal member working surface and the backup jaw, said backup jaw and first and second and third hexagonal member working surfaces simultaneously engaging four contiguous sides of the hexagonal member.
 3. A ratcheting wrench for hexagonal and square members according to claim 1 wherein said first hexagonal member working surface is in the form of an integral projection tooth.
 3. a square member positioning surface intersecting said first hexagonal member working surface at the end thereof opposite said second hexagonal member working surface, the plane of said square member positioning surface being perpendicular to said backup jaw member engaging surface; and
 4. a square member working surface intersecting said square member positioning surface perpendicular thereto, the square member working surface being parallel said backup jaw member engaging surface and spaced from said backup jaw member engaging surface slightly greater than C, the length of said square member working surface being less the 1/2 C.
 4. A ratcheting wrench for hexagonal and square members according to claim 3 wherein said integral projecting tooth is formed of material harder than said body.
 5. A ratcheting wrench for hexagonal and square members according to claim 1 wherein said square member working surface is in the form of an integral projecting tooth.
 6. A ratcheting wrench for hexagonal and square members according to claim 5 wherein said integral projecting tooth is of material harder than said body.
 7. A ratcheting wrench for hexagonal and square members according to claim 1 wherein the spacing between said jaws is adjustable and thereby the spacing between said backup jaw member engaging surface and said torqueing jaw hexagonal and square working surfaces is adjustable. 